The rapper Blimes is a well-respected artist but her journey hasn't always been easy. To cope with that tumultuous road, the Bay Area native found hope in a brand of artistic expression: schoolyard battle raps.

"Every creative is incredibly sensitive, almost debilitatingly sensitive and we have to find ways to cope," she explains. But, unfortunately, battle raps weren't her only means to escape. "My story took some dark turns," she adds.

Today, Blimes joins "My Years Through My Ears" to share a story of love, addiction, recovery, and ultimately, optimism. She shares this story with a purpose, to influence others who are walking down a similar path. "You’re not alone," she confirms. "I just hope you learn ways to cope quicker than I did."

This is Blimes' years through her ears or a view of her life story through the music that impacted her the most.

Pre Teens — "Alphabet Aerobics" by Blackalicious  

Early Teens — "Passin' Me by by Pharcyde  

Late Teens —   "Spaceship" by Kanye West  

Twenties —   "Drug Ballad" by Eminem 

Thirties — "Game Winner" by Joey Dosik 

Steve Sweatpants is a renowned New York photographer. Born Steven John Irby, the creative mastermind has also been able to navigate the worlds of art, music, politics, and business with a distinct and striking black and white style. He has worked with the likes of NIKE, Cartier, SONY, and The New Yorker, while maintaining the essence that makes Steve Sweatpants special.

Here are the songs that shaped Steve's life. Find out why in the latest episode of My Years Through My Ears.

Pre-Teens: Slick Rick - Children's Story

Early Teens: JAY-Z - City Is Mine

Late Teens: Nas - No Idea's Original

Twenties: Jeezy - That's How Ya Feel

Thirties: Madlib - Distant Land

This is My Years Through My Ears, a series about influential songs that have shaped influential lives. Each guest breaks down the soundtrack to their life story, picking the most personally impactful songs to represent each chapter along the way.

My name is Andres Tardio and today’s guest is Illmac. He started his career as a battle rapper and as a musician. That’s how I got to know him. And lately, it’s been cool to watch him step into the animation world with his Rap Off series - you’ve probably seen those clips go viral - and by jumping into the intersection of music and NFTs.

I sat down with Illmac to talk about his life story through the music that he loves most. Like I do with every guest, I asked him to pick two songs to represent every chapter of his life and then we broke it all down. We talked about everything from childhood to Scribble Jam to this newfound success and everything in between. And we did it all through the music that shaped him.

Pre-Teens

1. Run-DMC — “You Talk Too Much”

2. 2Pac — “Me Against the World”

Teens

3. DMX — “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem”

4. Eminem — “Rock Bottom”

Twenties

5. Lil Wayne — “Hustler Musik”

6. Kendrick Lamar— “Cut You Off”

Thirties

7. Lil Wayne — “Glory”

8. Mac Miller — “Come Back to Earth”

Welcome to My Years Through My Ears, a series about influential songs that have shaped influential lives. Each guest breaks down the soundtrack to their life story, picking the most personally impactful songs to represent each chapter along the way.

My name is Andres Tardio and this episode's guest is Wynne. Coming out of Oregon, she’s a phenomenal emcee who dropped If I May… in the prepandemic days of 2019. Last year, she released her latest project, Do My Own Stunts.

Wynne's story is an inspirational one, proving what can happen when you dream big, step out of your comfort zone, and follow your heart. 

Pre-Teens

Luther Vandross - "Super Lady"

Kanye West - "Can't Tell Me Nothing"

Teens

Kendrick Lamar - "Backseat Freestyle"

The Roots: "Dynamite!"

Twenties

SZA - "Supermodel"

NxWorries - "Get Bigger/Do U Love"

Welcome to My Years Through My Ears, a series about influential songs that have shaped influential lives. Each guest breaks down the soundtrack to their life story, picking the most personally impactful songs to represent each chapter along the way.

My name is Andrés Tardio and today’s guest is Sa-Roc. She’s the leader of the "Goddess Gang" and a phenomenal MC, who just released the deluxe edition of her newest album, The Sharecropper’s Daughter.

Her story is an inspirational one, proving what can happen when you start out as a "Wild Seed" with big dreams and then go on to try to create a legacy that lasts "Forever."

Special thanks to Sa-Roc for sharing her story here. Please check out her work on The Sharecropper’s Daughter and catch her on tour in a city near you whenever you can.

The theme song for this series was provided by Atmosphere. It was used w/ permission from Slug, Ant, and RHymesayers Entertainment. Additional music was created for this podcast by Chase Moore.

Tune in soon for a new episode, like, subscribe, and do whatever else podcast hosts ask for. I’m sure it’s all very helpful.

Sa-Roc's My Years Through My Ears Playlist

Pre Teens

Junkyard Band — “Ruff-It-Off”

Jimi Hendrix — “Angel”

Early Teens

The Cranberries — “Linger”

Lenny Kravitz — “Heaven Help”

Late Teens

Outkast — “Wheelz of Steel”

Lauryn Hill — “When It Hurts So Bad”

Twenties

Dead Prez — “Hip-Hop”

Jay Electronica — “Voodoo Man”

Thirties

Black Thought — “Twofifteen”

Moses Sumney — “Don’t Bother Calling”

This is My Years Through My Ears, a series about influential songs that have shaped influential lives. Each guest breaks down the soundtrack to their life story, picking the most personally impactful songs to represent each chapter along the way.

My name is Andres Tardio and this episode's guest is Devi Brown. She is the Chief Impact Officer at Chopra, the founder of Karma Bliss, the host of the Dropping Gems Podcast, a radio legend, a good friend, and a great mother.

She’s also an author, a seeker, a guide, a gem. Her story is an inspirational one, proving what can happen when you follow your heart and chase your passions with a purpose and precision, even when the road is hard, never giving up.

Devi's My Years Through My Ears Playlist

Pre-Teens

Des’ree — “You Gotta Be”

Snoop Dogg ft. Kurt, Warren G, Nate Dogg — “Ain’t No Fun”

Early Teens

2Pac, Outlawz — “Baby Don’t Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)”

Suga Free f. Playa Hamm — “If U Stay Ready”

Late Teens

Common — “It’s Your World - Part 1 & 2”

Evanescence — “My Immortal”

Twenties

Miguel f. J. Cole — “All I Want Is You”

Rihanna — “Diamonds”

Thirties

Kendrick Lamar — “GOD.”

Solange — “Cranes in the Sky”

This is My Years Through My Ears, a series about influential songs that have shaped influential lives. Each guest breaks down the soundtrack to their life story, picking the most personally impactful songs to represent each chapter along the way.

My name is Andres Tardio and today’s guest is Shea Serrano. He’s a writer, a host, and a philanthropist, and other things. His story is an inspirational one, going from humble beginnings to a career in education and eventually, the New York Times Bestseller’s list.

Shea’s sitting down with me just after launching No Skips, a podcast w/ my man Jinx, Brandon Jenkins, and before dropping his newest book, Hip-Hop (And Other Things). Go cop it and follow @sheaserrano everywhere.

Pre-Teens

Vanilla Ice — “Ninja Rap”

Wreckx-N-Effect — “Rump Shaker”

Early Teens

Da Brat — “Funkdafied”

Snoop Dogg feat. Daz Dillinger — “Murder Was The Case”

Late Teens

Lil’ Kim feat. Lil’ Cease & The Notorious B.I.G. — “Crush On You”

Missy Elliott — “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”

Twenties

Juvenile — “Ha”

Kanye West — “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”

Thirties

Kendrick Lamar — “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014”

Cousin Stizz — “Fed Up”

This is My Years Through My Ears, a series about influential songs that have shaped influential lives. Each guest breaks down the soundtrack to their life story, picking the most personally impactful songs to represent each chapter along the way.

This episode's guest is MURS. He is one of my favorite rappers of all time time. His story is an inspirational one, going from LA to abandoned buildings in Europe to where he is now, a celebrated rapper with so many achievements under his belt.

Plus, he remains prolific. He’s sitting down with me just after releasing his newest body of work. It’s called Love & Rockets Vol. 2: The Declaration.

MURS — My Years Through My Ears Playlist

Pre-Teens

U.T.F.O. — “Roxanne, Roxanne”

Bart Simpsons — “Do The Bartman”

Early Teens

EPMD — “Crossover”

Freestyle Fellowship — “Bullies of the Block”

Late Teens

BFAP, PSC, Grouch, Krewcial — “One Step Beyond”

E-40, Too $hort, K-Ci — “Rapper’s Ball”

20s

Kid Rock — “Only God Knows Why”

Playaz Circle feat. Lil Wayne — “Duffel Bag Boy”

30s

Kendrick Lamar feat. MC Eiht — “m.A.A.d city”

¡MAYDAY! — “All The Time”

40s

Murs feat. John Givez — “Midtown”

Nipsey Hussle feat. YG — “Last Time That I Checc’d”

This is My Years Through My Ears, a series about influential songs that shaped influential lives. Each guest breaks down the soundtrack to their life story, picking the most personally impactful songs to represent each chapter along the way.

Today's guest is Rob Markman, the Vice President of Content Strategy at Genius, where I'm honored to say we work together. He is one of the most respected music journalists in the game but also a motivational emcee who just dropped his newest album, If You Don’t, You’ll Regret It.

In this episode, Rob breaks down the challenges he's faced throughout his life and the optimism that continues to fuel his drive to excel. We talk about rough days but also an unbreakable belief that there's always something to look forward to.

Rob Markman's "My Years Through My Ears" Playlist

Pre-Teens:

Doug E Fresh & MC Ricky D — “La-Di-Da-Di”

Sounds of Blackness — “Optimistic”

Early Teens:

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth — “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”

Nas ft. AZ — “Life’s a B---h”

Late Teens

The Notorious B.I.G. — “Sky’s the Limit”

Scarface ft. 2Pac — “Smile”

Twenties:

Scarface ft. Faith Evans — “Someday”

Lil Wayne — “Hustler Musik”

Thirties:

Rob Markman — “I Don’t Wanna Wait”

JAY Z — “Kill Jay Z”

Credits: 

Creator/Host/Producer/Editor — Andrés Tardio

Theme Song  — Atmosphere — "Anybody That I've Known"

Additional Music — Chase Moore